Watchman (c) Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, I only entertain this absurdly fluffy idea.
The relationship between Dan and Rorschach is taken more from the movie than the novel.
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CHAPTER FOUR
Dan Dreiberg hadn't seen Rorschach in months, but knew the vigilante was still breathing. He was looking at some of the work of his former partner in the New Frontiersmen. A drug-lord dead and his pushers beaten within an inch of their lives. Dan grinned at the graphic picture as he took the cash for the hand before him.
"See you soon?" the cashier asked lightly.
"Yea, real soon," Dan replied, not taking his eyes from the paper.
"You want it? Someone left it here earlier," said the cashier, noting the look on Dan's face. Dan looked at the face of the girl a moment before answering.
"Sure, I'll take it." The cashier picked up the paper and handed it to Dan. He thanked the girl behind the register as he exited the Gunga Diner. Dan opened the whole paper to read the headline.
"VIGILANTE RORSCHACH SLIPS THROUGH FINGERS - POLICE TIGHTEN GRIP"
Dan laughed at the headline. Newspapers were always good with puns, but this one was bad. Dan could just barely make out that Rorschach had tightened his own grip around the drug-lords throat.
"At least he's alive," Dan sighed, tucking the paper under his left arm. Dan looked up at the slowly clouding sky as he started to walk home. "Probably going to rain later" he said to himself. Dan quickly jay-walked across the street and turned towards home, when he bumped shoulders with someone.
"Oh, sorry," Dan said, looking the man right in the face, while taking in his whole appearance. Ruggedly built, ragged clothes, messy, red hair, a face of freckles, and a sign saying, "THE END IS NIGH." The man said nothing, but nodded in recognition of Dan's apology. Dan continued around the corner when, suddenly, he stopped. He walked back around the corner and looked for the sign wielding man, whom was nowhere in sight.
"Where. . . ," Dan started, but shook his head. There was no way he could know that man. "Going crazy, Dreiberg." Dan giggled; at the fact that he just sounded like Rorschach, and continued on to his home, where he was glad to find the door intact. Then he looked around and noted that it was still several hours 'til the dark of night, when Rorschach normally came out to play with the city.
Dan unlocked his door, entered, and swiftly closed the door, locking it in one motion. Dan stood quiet in his front hall for several minutes, just to make sure. When he heard nothing, Dan removed his coat and placed it on the rack. Dan moved through his kitchen, grabbing a bottled water on his way to his living room. Dan slumped on the couch, tossed the New Frontiersman on the coffee table, and turned the TV on. One of Veidt's perfume commercials was on.
Dan flipped through the channels, finding nothing good to watch until he came across an episode of "The Outer Limits." Dan had seen this episode before, but most enjoyed, "The Zanti Misfits." He set the remote in his lap and watched with the eager anticipation of a child. The little ants with the human faces still chilled him to the bone. The looked incredibly awkward and moved incredibly fast. As the episode wore on, Dan's head began to fall to his chest in sleep. Even though he'd been out of the vigilante business for several years, he still hadn't gotten used to being awake during the day.
Thunder roared outside, making Dan lift his head. He reached for the remote and turned off his TV. He could hear the rain cascading against his kitchen windows. Dan preceded to fall asleep to the music of the rain.
Hours later, Dan awoke to what he thought was thunder. He stretched as he walked into the kitchen, listening and watching for thunder and lightning. Dan yawned as he heard some wrapping at his door. Dan walked into the hall, towards the door.
"Who is it?" he called. No one answered, at least not that Dan could hear. Maybe it was someone whom realized they had the wrong apartment. Dan called once more, to make sure, "Who's there?" His answer came in three knocks, each one growing a little weaker than the previous.
Dan opened the door to see Rorschach leaning on his left arm against his door frame. "Jesus, Rorschach."
Rorschach looked up to Daniel's face. "Hello, Daniel," a tired, half smile laced in his voice.